Systems and methods for previewing newly captured image content and reviewing previously stored image content

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for previewing newly captured image content and reviewing previously stored image content using an electronic device are provided. The previously stored image content may include an individual distinct image or at least two consecutive video frame images.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This can relate to systems and methods for capturing and storing imagesand, more particularly, to systems and methods for previewing newlycaptured image content and reviewing previously stored image contentusing an electronic device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Many electronic devices include the ability to capture images. Inparticular, many cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, andother portable electronic devices include the functionality ofstill-image and/or video cameras. Using a camera lens, such anelectronic device captures light and stores one or more images asdesired by the user. Often, the electronic device displays a “live”preview of the images being captured by the lens in order to help theuser appropriately orientate the lens with respect to the desiredtarget. Once a user selects a captured image to be stored, theelectronic device traditionally stores the image and displays the storedimage in order to permit the user to view what he or she hassuccessfully recorded. However, due to processing limitations, displaylimitations, and other limitations of such electronic devices, a usermust toggle between a preview mode of the electronic device thatdisplays the live preview of the images currently being captured and areview mode of the electronic device that displays one or morepreviously captured and stored images.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Systems and methods for previewing newly captured image content andreviewing previously stored image content using an electronic device areprovided.

For example, in some embodiments, there is provided an electronic devicethat may include a display screen, a camera, and processing circuitry.The camera may be configured to capture image content, and theprocessing circuitry may be configured to store first image contentcaptured by the camera, generate a first representation of the firstimage content, and simultaneously display the first representation and alive preview of the image content being captured by the camera on thedisplay screen. In some embodiments, the first image content may includea first plurality of consecutive video frame images. In otherembodiments, the first image content may include a first individualdistinct image.

In some embodiments, the first representation may be a condensed versionof the first image content, such as a thumbnail. In some embodiments,the processing circuitry may also be configured to store second imagecontent captured by the camera, and generate a second representation ofthe second image content. In some embodiments, the processing circuitrymay be further configured to replace the first representation with thesecond representation on the display screen. While, in otherembodiments, the processing circuitry may be further configured tosimultaneously display the first representation on a first portion ofthe display screen, the image content most recently captured by thecamera on a second portion of the display screen, and the secondrepresentation on a third portion of the display screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects of the invention, its nature, and variousfeatures will become more apparent upon consideration of the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an illustrative electronic device inaccordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are elevated front and back views of an illustrativeelectronic device with an interface at a first stage in accordance withsome embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view, similar to FIG. 2A, of the electronic device ofFIGS. 2A and 2B, with the interface at a second stage in accordance withsome embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an illustrative process for displaying imagecontent in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Systems and methods for previewing newly captured image content andreviewing previously stored image content using an electronic device areprovided and described with reference to FIGS. 1-4.

An electronic device may be operative to capture images of a user'ssurroundings. For example, an electronic device may include an opticalor digital lens operative to capture light reflected by the user'senvironment. The electronic device may be operative to store particularimages captured by the lens for playback (e.g., to print or to sendelectronically for others to view). The electronic device may storeimages at any suitable time, including, for example, in response toreceiving a user instruction (e.g., in response to a user providing aninput using an input interface of the device), after a delay (e.g., whena timer has been activated), or automatically (e.g., at a particularmoment in time or when the electronic device detects a particularmovement).

Before the electronic device stores captured image content, such as anindividual distinct image or consecutive video frame images, theelectronic device may provide the user with a preview of the mostrecently captured image. In particular, the electronic device may beconfigured to provide a representation of the image captured by the lensat each moment in time on a display screen of the electronic device(i.e., a “live” view or stream of what is currently being captured). Toenable the user to easily aim the lens, preview a captured image, andprovide an instruction to store the image without requiring extensivemovement of the device, the display screen may be positioned on a sideof the device opposite the side of the device exposing the lens. Forexample, the electronic device may include one or both of a displayscreen and a viewfinder on a side of the device opposite the side of thelens. In other embodiments, the display screen and the lens may be onthe same side or adjacent sides of the electronic device.

The electronic device may store image content at any suitable time. Insome embodiments, the electronic device may store image content only inresponse to receiving a corresponding user input instruction. Forexample, the electronic device may include a touch-screen, and theelectronic device can be configured to allow any contact of one or morecertain regions of the touch-screen to constitute an instruction tostore captured image content. In other embodiments, the electronicdevice may store image content in response to various other suitableevents, such as, for example, when a period of time elapses, or when acaptured image content is determined to include a certain color orobject.

Once the electronic device has stored captured image content, theelectronic device may provide the user with a review of the stored imagecontent. For example, the electronic device may be configured to providea representation of the image content most recently stored by the deviceon the display screen of the electronic device. To enable the user toeasily review the stored image content while also being able to previewthe most recently captured image, the electronic device may beconfigured to display both images simultaneously on the display screen.The device may be configured to display previously stored content invarious ways with respect to the most recently captured content.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an illustrative electronic device 100 forproviding preview and review of images to a user. In some embodiments,electronic device 100 may perform a single function (e.g., a devicededicated to storing image content) and, in other embodiments,electronic devices 100 may perform multiple functions (e.g., a devicethat stores image content, plays music, and receives and transmitstelephone calls). Moreover, in some embodiments, electronic device 100may be any portable, mobile, or hand-held electronic device configuredto provide preview and review of images to a user simultaneouslywherever the user travels. Alternatively, electronic device 100 may notbe portable at all, but may instead be generally stationary. Electronicdevice 100 may include any suitable type of electronic device operativeto capture images and display them to a user. For example, electronicdevice 100 may include a media player (e.g., an iPod™ available by AppleInc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a cellular telephone (e.g., an iPhone™available by Apple Inc.), a personal e-mail or messaging device (e.g., aBlackberry™ available by Research In Motion Limited of Waterloo,Ontario), any other wireless communication device, a pocket-sizedpersonal computer, a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, a music recorder, a still camera, a movieor video camera or recorder, a radio, medical equipment, any othersuitable type of electronic device, and any combinations thereof.

Electronic device 100 may include a processor or control circuitry 102,memory 104, communications circuitry 106, power supply 108, inputcomponent 110, image display 112, and camera lens 114. Electronic device100 may also include a bus 103 that may provide a data transfer path fortransferring data, to, from, or between various other components ofdevice 100. In some embodiments, one or more components of electronicdevice 100 may be combined or omitted. Moreover, electronic device 100may include other components not combined or included in FIG. 1. Forexample, electronic device 100 may include motion detection circuitry,light sensing circuitry, positioning circuitry, or several instances ofthe components shown in FIG. 1. For the sake of simplicity, only one ofeach of the components is shown in FIG. 1.

Memory 104 may include one or more storage mediums, including forexample, a hard-drive, flash memory, permanent memory such as read-onlymemory (“ROM”), semi-permanent memory such as random access memory(“RAM”), any other suitable type of storage component, or anycombination thereof. Memory 104 may include cache memory, which may beone or more different types of memory used for temporarily storing datafor electronic device applications. Memory 104 may store media data(e.g., music, image, and video files), software (e.g., for implementingfunctions on device 100), firmware, preference information (e.g., mediaplayback preferences), lifestyle information (e.g., food preferences),exercise information (e.g., information obtained by exercise monitoringequipment), transaction information (e.g., information such as creditcard information), wireless connection information (e.g., informationthat may enable device 100 to establish a wireless connection),subscription information (e.g., information that keeps track of podcastsor television shows or other media a user subscribes to), contactinformation (e.g., telephone numbers and e-mail addresses), calendarinformation, any other suitable data, or any combination thereof.

Communications circuitry 106 may be provided to allow device 100 tocommunicate with one or more other electronic devices or servers usingany suitable communications protocol. For example, communicationscircuitry 106 may support Wi-Fi (e.g., an 802.11 protocol), Ethernet,Bluetooth™, high frequency systems (e.g., 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.6 GHzcommunication systems), infrared, transmission control protocol/internetprotocol (“TCP/IP”) (e.g., any of the protocols used in each of theTCP/IP layers), hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”), BitTorrent™, filetransfer protocol (“FTP”), real-time transport protocol (“RTP”),real-time streaming protocol (“RTSP”), secure shell protocol (“SSH”),any other communications protocol, or any combination thereof.Communications circuitry 106 may also include circuitry that can enabledevice 100 to be electrically coupled to another device (e.g., acomputer or an accessory device) and communicate with that other device,either wirelessly or via a wired connection.

Power supply 108 may provide power to the components of device 100. Insome embodiments, power supply 108 can be coupled to a power grid (e.g.,when device 100 is not a portable device, such as a desktop computer).In some embodiments, power supply 108 can include one or more batteriesfor providing power (e.g., when device 100 is a portable device, such asa cellular telephone). As another example, power supply 108 can beconfigured to generate power from a natural source (e.g., solar powerusing solar cells).

One or more input components 110 may be provided to permit a user tointeract or interface with device 100. For example, input component 110can take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, anelectronic device pad, dial, click wheel, scroll wheel, touch screen,one or more buttons (e.g., a keyboard), mouse, joy stick, track ball,and combinations thereof. For example, input component 110 may include amulti-touch screen. Each input component 110 can be configured toprovide one or more dedicated control functions for making selections orissuing commands associated with operating device 100.

Electronic device 100 may also include one or more output componentsthat may present information (e.g., textual, graphical, audible, and/ortactile information) to a user of device 100. An output component ofelectronic device 100 may take various forms, including, but notlimited, to audio speakers, headphones, audio line-outs, visualdisplays, antennas, infrared ports, rumblers, vibrators, or combinationsthereof.

For example, electronic device 100 may include image display 112 as anoutput component. Display 112 may include any suitable type of displayor interface for previewing and reviewing images captured by camera lens114. In some embodiments, display 112 may include a display embedded indevice 100 or coupled to device 100 (e.g., a removable display). Display112 may include, for example, a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), a lightemitting diode (“LED”) display, an organic light-emitting diode (“OLED”)display, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display (“SED”), a carbonnanotube display, a nanocrystal display, any other suitable type ofdisplay, or combination thereof. Alternatively, display 112 can includea movable display or a projecting system for providing a display ofcontent on a surface remote from electronic device 100, such as, forexample, a video projector, a head-up display, or a three-dimensional(e.g., holographic) display. As another example, display 112 may includea digital or mechanical viewfinder through which a user can see theimages captured by camera lens 114. In some embodiments, display 112 mayinclude a viewfinder of the type found in compact digital cameras,reflex cameras, or any other suitable still or video camera.

It should be noted that one or more input components and one or moreoutput components may sometimes be referred to collectively herein as anI/O interface (e.g., input component 110 and display 112 as I/Ointerface 111). It should also be noted that input component 110 anddisplay 112 may sometimes be a single I/O component, such as a touchscreen that may receive input information through a user's touch of adisplay screen and that may also provide visual information to a uservia that same display screen.

Camera lens 114 may include any suitable lens or number of lensesoperative to capture images of the surrounding environment of electronicdevice 100. For example, camera lens 114 may include any number ofoptical or digital lenses for capturing light reflected by the user'senvironment as an image. The captured light may be stored as anindividual distinct image or as consecutive video frame images of arecording (e.g., several video frames including a primary frame and oneor more subsequent frames that may indicate the difference between theprimary frame and the subsequent frame). As used herein, the term“camera lens” may be understood to mean a lens for capturing light or alens and appropriate circuitry for capturing and converting capturedlight into an image that can be previewed or stored by electronic device100 as either an individual distinct image or as one of many consecutivevideo frame images.

Processor 102 of device 100 may control the operation of many functionsand other circuitry provided by device 100. For example, processor 102may receive input signals from input component 110 and/or drive outputsignals through display 112. Processor 102 may load a user interfaceprogram (e.g., a program stored in memory 104 or another device orserver) to determine how instructions or data received via an inputcomponent 110 or camera lens 114 may manipulate the way in whichinformation is provided to the user via an output component (e.g.,display 112). Processor 102 may associate different metadata with theimages captured by camera lens 114, including, for example, positioninginformation, device movement information, a time code, a deviceidentifier, or any other suitable metadata. Electronic device 100 (e.g.,processor 102, any circuitry of camera lens 114, or any other componentavailable to device 100) may be configured to capture images with cameralens 114 at various resolutions, frequencies, intensities, and variousother characteristics as may be appropriate for the capabilities andresources of device 100.

Electronic device 100 may also be provided with a housing 101 that mayat least partially enclose one or more of the components of device 100for protecting them from debris and other degrading forces external todevice 100. In some embodiments, one or more of the components may beprovided within its own housing (e.g., input component 110 may be anindependent keyboard or mouse within its own housing that may wirelesslyor through a wire communicate with processor 102, which may be providedwithin its own housing).

FIGS. 2A and 2B respectively show front and back views of anillustrative electronic device 200. Electronic device 200 may includesome or all of the features of electronic device 100 of FIG. 1. Inparticular, electronic device 200 may include display 212 on a firstside 203 of device 200 and camera lens 214 on second side 205 of device200. In some embodiments, a camera lens may be provided on the same sideas or an adjacent side to display 212 (e.g., camera lens 214 a may beprovided on first side 203 above display 212). When a camera mode ofelectronic device 200 is enabled, device 200 may provide a preview ofthe image most recently captured by lens 214 on display 212. Forexample, electronic device 200 may provide a preview of the image mostrecently captured by lens 214 (i.e., most recently captured image 251 a)on a preview portion 221 of display 212.

In some embodiments, as mentioned above, display 212 may be a touchscreen and may also act as an input component for device 200. Therefore,display 212 may provide a record input region on a portion of display212. For example, when in a camera mode, electronic device 200 mayprovide record input region 241 on an auxiliary portion 223 of display212. The user may press or otherwise select record input region 241 ofdisplay 212 to instruct device 200 to store the captured image currentlybeing shown on preview portion 221 of display 212. For example,electronic device 200 may be configured to store most recently capturedimage 251 a (e.g., in memory 104) in response to a user's selection ofrecord input region 241 of display 212. In some embodiments, auxiliaryportion 223 may be a portion of display 212 that is separate anddistinct from preview portion 221 of display 212, such that no region ofauxiliary portion 223 may overlap or otherwise interfere with thecaptured image being shown on preview portion 221. In yet otherembodiments auxiliary portion 223 and preview portion 221 may each beprovided on its own distinct display 212 of device 200.

In some embodiments, device 200 may be configured to store either anindividual distinct image or many consecutive video frame images. Forexample, a first type of user selection of record input region 241(e.g., a single tap of region 241) may instruct device 200 to store onlythe captured image currently being shown on preview portion 221 ofdisplay 212 as an individual distinct image. Alternatively, a secondtype of user selection of record input region 241 (e.g., a double tap ofregion 241) may instruct device 200 to store the captured imagecurrently being shown on preview portion 221 of display 212 as well asadditional images to be captured by camera lens 214 as consecutive videoframe images for a certain duration, such as until record input region241 is selected again. In some embodiments, record input region 241 mayonly be used to receive user inputs for storing individual distinctimages and display 212 may provide a second record input region (notshown) that may only be used to receive user inputs for storing multipleimages as consecutive video frame images. In other embodiments,electronic device 200 may include an additional input component 210,which may be distinct from display 212, and which may be used to receiveuser inputs for instructing device 200 to store one or more imagescaptured by camera lens 214.

Once a certain individual distinct image or certain consecutive videoframe images (i.e., image content) has been successfully selected andstored, an electronic device may display a review of the stored imagecontent in order to show the user what has been successfully recorded.For example, after device 200 has successfully stored certain capturedimage content, device 200 may be configured to display a representation351 a of that stored image content on a review portion (e.g. reviewportion 225 a and/or review portion 225 b) of display 212, as shown inFIG. 3.

To enable the user to easily review stored image content while alsobeing able to preview the current most recently captured image,electronic device 200 may be configured to display both imagessimultaneously on the display screen. This may allow the user to quicklysee if he or she has stored the intended image content while alsoallowing the user to be immediately primed to store new image content.This may be useful, for example, when a user wants to rapidly take aseries of photographs. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, device 200 mayprovide a preview of the image most recently captured by lens 214 (i.e.,most recently captured image 251 b) on preview portion 221 of display212, while also simultaneously providing a review of stored imagecontent (i.e., representation 351 a) on review portion (e.g. reviewportion 225 a and/or review portion 225 b) of display 212.

In some embodiments, representation 351 a may provide a review of storedimage content that includes a certain individual distinct image (e.g., astored photograph). For example, as shown in FIG. 3, representation 351a may provide a review of captured image 251 a of FIG. 2A. Such arepresentation may be a replicated, compressed, condensed, or otherwisealtered version of the individual distinct image that has been stored(e.g., a thumbnail of the photograph). Device 200 may be configured tosimultaneously or otherwise store the captured image and generate arepresentative version of that image to be displayed as representation351 a.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, representation 351 a may provide areview of stored image content that includes certain consecutive videoframe images (e.g., a stored movie). Such a representation may be areplicated, compressed, condensed, or otherwise altered version of asingle frame image of the consecutive video frame images that has beenstored (e.g., a thumbnail of the first frame, middle frame, or lastframe of the movie). Alternatively, such a representation may be areplicated, compressed, condensed, or otherwise altered version of twoor more of the video frame images that have been stored. For example,the representation may be a video collage that replays some (i.e., twoor more) or all of the stored video frame images in succession, eitherin a continuous loop or just once. The video collage may replay insuccession at least two frames that may not be consecutive frames in thestored video image content. As another example, the representation maybe a static collage that depicts some (i.e., two or more) or all of thestored video frame images as a single distinct image (e.g., aphotomontage). Device 200 may be configured to simultaneously orotherwise store the captured consecutive video frame images and generatea representative version of those consecutive video frame images to bedisplayed as representation 351 a.

In some embodiments, review portion 225 a providing representation 351 amay be separate and distinct from preview portion 221 of display 212,such that no region of review portion 225 a may overlap or otherwiseinterfere with the captured image currently being shown on previewportion 221 (i.e., most recently captured image 251 b). For example,device 200 may be configured to provide review portion 225 a withinauxiliary portion 223 of display 212 (see, e.g., review portion 225 a ofFIG. 3). This positioning of review portion 225 a may provide a reviewof stored image content (i.e., representation 351 a) that is adjacent torecord input region 241.

Alternatively, device 200 may be configured to provide review portion225 b within preview portion 221 of display 212 (see, e.g., reviewportion 225 b of FIG. 3). This positioning of review portion 225 b mayprovide a review of stored image content (i.e., representation 351 a)that is adjacent to or that is overlapping with the captured imagecurrently being shown on preview portion 221 (i.e., most recentlycaptured image 251 b).

Electronic device 200 may be configured to continually generate anddisplay a representation of stored image content for review by a useronce that content has been stored. In some embodiments, a representationof newly stored image content may be displayed in place of a previouslydisplayed representation of stored image content. For example, oncedevice 200 stores new image content, a representation of that new imagecontent may be displayed in review portion (e.g. review portion 225 aand/or review portion 225 b), and whatever had previously been displayedin review portion (e.g., review portion 225 a and/or review portion 225b with representation 351 a) may be removed from display 212.Alternatively, a representation of newly stored image content may bedisplayed concurrently with a representation of previously stored imagecontent. For example, once device 200 stores new image content, arepresentation of that new image content may be displayed in reviewportion (e.g. review portion 225 a and/or review portion 225 b), and therepresentation that had previously been displayed in review portion(e.g., review portion 225 a and/or review portion 225 b withrepresentation 351 a) may instead be displayed in a second reviewportion (e.g., a review portion, such as one or both of review portions235 a and 235 b of FIG. 3).

By configuring electronic device 200 to simultaneously display both apreview of the most recently captured image and a review of one or morerepresentations of previously stored image content, a user may easilyreview the previously stored image content while device 200 remains in acamera mode that is able to immediately store new image content. Thismay provide the user with a visual confirmation of the image content heor she has previously stored while also providing the user with theability see and store the most recently captured image at the same time.The visual representation of previously stored image content may permitthe user to easily select and interact with (e.g., edit or delete) thepreviously stored image content. For example, if a user would like tointeract with certain stored image content that is represented ondisplay 200 (e.g., content represented in one of review portions 225 aor 225 b, or review portions 235 a or 235 b), the user may easily selectthat specific content (e.g., by tapping on the particular review portionor otherwise appropriately manipulating an input component of device200). When a specific review portion of display 212 is selected, device200 may be configured to immediately access and present to the user thestored image content associated with that review portion (e.g., usingthe entire display screen).

Information can be displayed by electronic device 200 in varioussuitable ways. As the information changes, electronic device 200 canprovide animations to assist the user in identifying newly displayedinformation, or to provide feedback that an instruction was properlyreceived and executed. In some embodiments, a user interface can changeas the content to be displayed changes. For example, if new imagecontent is stored and is to be displayed as a representation for userreview simultaneously with a preview of most recently captured imagecontent, electronic device 200 may provide two distinct interfaces andan animation for the transition between the two interfaces (e.g., theinterface before the representation is displayed (see, e.g., FIG. 2A)and the interface after the representation is displayed (see, e.g., FIG.3)). The animation can be generated using any suitable approach,including, for example, using a graphics engine to render some or all ofthe intermediate frames between the initial and final interfaces (e.g.,using processor 102 of FIG. 1).

To animate the change, electronic device 200 may identify distinctregions of the interface to be changed. For example, electronic device200 can identify preview portion 221 and one or more of review portions225 a, 225 b, 235 a, and 235 b of display 212 that may be changed inresponse to new image content being stored by a user. Electronic device200 may pre-render the final interface (e.g., after a representation ofthe newly stored image content has been provided on display 212), anduse cross-fading or other approaches to individually define a transitionbetween the interface presented before the representation is shown andthe interface presented with the representation.

Electronic device 200 can define the animation using any suitableapproach. In some embodiments, electronic device 200 may first identifythe distinct display regions for which interface transitions can bedefined. Electronic device 200 may identify the regions using anysuitable approach, including, for example, from metadata associated withparticular regions, or from display properties of the interfaceelements. Electronic device 200 may define any suitable number ofregions distributed at any suitable position on display 212. To animatethe transition between the interfaces, electronic device 200 may applyrotations, cross-fading, scaling, or any other suitable transformationsto generate a smooth animation between the interfaces. In someembodiments, the animation may be generated as a series of simultaneousand overlaid animations applied to each of the identified regions.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an illustrative process 400 for previewingnewly captured image content and reviewing previously stored imagecontent using an electronic device. At step 402, the electronic devicecan capture image content. For example, the electronic device cancapture image content, such as an individual distinct image or at leasttwo consecutive video frame images, using a camera lens. At step 404,the electronic device can store a first captured image content. Forexample, the electronic device may store in memory a first image contentthat has been captured by a camera lens in response to a userinstruction. At step 406, the electronic device may generate a firstrepresentation of the first captured image content. For example, theelectronic device may generate a compressed or redacted version of thefirst captured image content. Next, at step 408, the electronic devicemay simultaneously display the first representation of the firstcaptured image content and the most recently captured image content. Forexample, once the electronic device has generated the firstrepresentation, the electronic device may display the firstrepresentation on a display screen of the electronic device to provide auser with the ability to review the previously stored image content.Moreover, the device may simultaneously display the image content mostrecently captured by the camera lens of the electronic device to providethe user with the ability to preview newly captured image content andreview the previously stored content at the same as time. This processmay be repeated, such that each time new image content is stored, arepresentation of that new image content may be generated and thendisplayed simultaneously with the most recently captured image content.

It is understood that the steps shown in process 400 of FIG. 4 aremerely illustrative and that existing steps may be modified or omittedand that additional steps may be added.

It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that certainmethods involved in the invention may be embodied in a computer programproduct that includes a machine readable and/or usable medium. Forexample, such a computer usable medium may consist of a read only memorydevice, such as a CD ROM disk or conventional ROM device, or a randomaccess memory, such as a hard drive device or a computer diskette, orflash memory device having a computer readable program code storedthereon.

While there have been described systems and methods for previewing newlycaptured image content and reviewing previously stored image contentusing an electronic device, it is to be understood that many changes maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. It is also to be understood that various directional andorientational terms such as “front” and “back,” “left” and “right,”“top” and “bottom,” and the like are used herein only for convenience,and that no fixed or absolute directional or orientational limitationsare intended by the use of these words. For example, the devices of theinvention can have any desired orientation. If reoriented, differentdirectional or orientational terms may need to be used in theirdescription, but that will not alter their fundamental nature as withinthe scope and spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than thedescribed embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustrationrather than of limitation, and the invention is limited only by theclaims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: at an electronic devicewith one or more processors, a memory, a camera, and a touch-screendisplay: capturing one or more images with the camera; storing thecaptured one or more images in the memory; displaying a live preview ina predefined preview area on the touch-screen display, wherein: the livepreview is a stream of images that are currently being captured by thecamera, the live preview has a width in the predefined preview area onthe touch-screen display, and the live preview has a bottom edge in thepredefined preview area on the touch-screen display; concurrentlydisplaying with the live preview, on the touch-screen display, arepresentation of a most recently stored image in the captured one ormore images that are stored in the memory and a record input region,wherein: the representation of the most recently stored image has awidth on the touch-screen display that is less than the width of thelive preview, the representation of the most recently stored image isdisplayed in a predefined review area on the touch-screen display thatis separate and distinct from the predefined preview area on thetouch-screen display such that no region of the predefined review areaoverlaps with the live image in the predefined preview area, and thepredefined review area is below the bottom edge of the live preview inthe predefined preview area on the touch-screen display; whileconcurrently displaying the record input region, the live preview in thepredefined preview area and the representation of the most recentlystored image in the predefined review area, detecting an input on thetouch-screen display; in accordance with a determination that the inputon the touch-screen display selects the record input region, storing acurrently captured image that corresponds to the live preview displayedin the predefined preview area; and, in accordance with a determinationthat the input on the touch-screen display selects the predefined reviewarea, replacing concurrent display of the live preview and therepresentation of the most recently stored image, on the touch-screendisplay, with display of the most recently stored image.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the representation of the most recently stored imageis a condensed, thumbnail version of the most recently stored image. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the touch-screen display has a width, andthe width of the live preview is equal to the width of the touch-screendisplay.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an input on thetouch screen display comprises detecting a tap on the predefined reviewarea.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch-screen display has awidth, and display of the most recently stored image in accordance withthe determination that the input on the touch-screen display selects thepredefined review area uses the entire width of the touch-screendisplay.
 6. An electronic device, comprising: a touch-screen display; acamera; one or more processors; a memory; and one or more programs,wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configuredto be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programsincluding instructions for: capturing one or more images with thecamera; storing the captured one or more images in the memory;displaying a live preview in a predefined preview area on thetouch-screen display, wherein: the live preview is a stream of imagesthat are currently being captured by the camera, the live preview has awidth in the predefined preview area on the touch-screen display, andthe live preview has a bottom edge in the predefined preview area on thetouch-screen display; concurrently displaying with the live preview, onthe touch-screen display, a representation of a most recently storedimage in the captured one or more images that are stored in the memoryand a record input region, wherein: the representation of the mostrecently stored image has a width on the touch-screen display that isless than the width of the live preview, the representation of the mostrecently stored image is displayed in a predefined review area on thetouch-screen display that is separate and distinct from the predefinedpreview area on the touch-screen display such that no region of thepredefined review area overlaps with the live image in the predefinedpreview area, and the predefined review area is below the bottom edge ofthe live preview in the predefined preview area on the touch-screendisplay; while concurrently displaying the record input region, the livepreview in the predefined preview area and the representation of themost recently stored image in the predefined review area, detecting aninput on the touch-screen display; in accordance with a determinationthat the input on the touch-screen display selects the record inputregion, storing a currently captured image that corresponds to the livepreview displayed in the predefined preview area; and, in accordancewith a determination that the input on the touch-screen display selectsthe predefined review area, replacing concurrent display of the livepreview and the representation of the most recently stored image, on thetouch-screen display, with display of the most recently stored image. 7.The device of claim 6, wherein the representation of the most recentlystored image is a condensed, thumbnail version of the most recentlystored image.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein the touch-screen displayhas a width, and the width of the live preview is equal to the width ofthe touch-screen display.
 9. The device of claim 6, wherein detecting aninput on the touch screen display comprises detecting a tap on thepredefined review area.
 10. The device of claim 6, wherein thetouch-screen display has a width, and display of the most recentlystored image in accordance with the determination that the input on thetouch-screen display selects the predefined review area uses the entirewidth of the touch-screen display.
 11. A non-transitory computerreadable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or moreprograms comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronicdevice with one or more processors, a memory, a camera, and atouch-screen display, cause the device to: capture one or more imageswith the camera; store the captured one or more images in the memory;display a live preview in a predefined preview area on the touch-screendisplay, wherein: the live preview is a stream of images that arecurrently being captured by the camera, the live preview has a width inthe predefined preview area on the touch-screen display, and the livepreview has a bottom edge in the predefined preview area on thetouch-screen display; concurrently display with the live preview, on thetouch-screen display, a representation of a most recently stored imagein the captured one or more images that are stored in the memory and arecord input region, wherein: the representation of the most recentlystored image has a width on the touch-screen display that is less thanthe width of the live preview, the representation of the most recentlystored image is displayed in a predefined review area on thetouch-screen display that is separate and distinct from the predefinedpreview area on the touch-screen display such that no region of thepredefined review area overlaps with the live image in the predefinedpreview area, and the predefined review area is below the bottom edge ofthe live preview in the predefined preview area on the touch-screendisplay; while concurrently displaying the record input region, the livepreview in the predefined preview area and the representation of themost recently stored image in the predefined review area, detect aninput on the touch screen display; in accordance with a determinationthat the input on the touch-screen display selects the record inputregion, store a currently captured image that corresponds to the livepreview displayed in the predefined preview area; and, in accordancewith a determination that the input on the touch-screen display selectsthe predefined review area, replace concurrent display of the livepreview and the representation of the most recently stored image, on thetouch-screen display, with display of the most recently stored image.12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11,wherein the representation of the most recently stored image is acondensed, thumbnail version of the most recently stored image.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein thetouch-screen display has a width, and the width of the live preview isequal to the width of the touch-screen display.
 14. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein detecting an inputon the touch screen display comprises detecting a tap on the predefinedreview area.
 15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 11, wherein the touch-screen display has a width, and display ofthe most recently stored image in accordance with the determination thatthe input on the touch-screen display selects the predefined review areauses the entire width of the touch-screen display.